FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 201: Federal Acquisition Regulations System › Subpart 201.4

DFARS 201.402 Policy.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section designates the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy as the approval authority for deviations from certain FAR and DFARS provisions related to procurement integrity, rights in data, cost accounting standards, contract cost principles, and contract financing. It also outlines the procedure and information required for submitting deviation requests. Contractors should be aware that deviations from these rules require high-level approval and must be justified in detail.

Applies to: DoD components requesting deviations from specified FAR/DFARS provisions

What it requires

  • Submit deviation requests through department/agency channels to the approval authority.
  • Submit deviations requiring OUSD(A&S)DPCAP approval through the Director of the DAR Council via email.
  • Include in each request: department/agency and component, FAR/DFARS citation, type of deviation, categorization, impact statement, duration, prior approval info, Federal Register publication status, legal review, and detailed rationale.

Key terms: deviation · individual or class deviation · approval authority · OUSD(A&S)DPCAP · DAR Council

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

(1) The Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) (OUSD(A&S)DPCAP), is the approval authority within DoD for any individual or class deviation from—

(i) FAR 3.104, Procurement Integrity, or DFARS 203.104, Procurement Integrity;

(ii) FAR subpart 27.4, Rights in Data and Copyrights, or DFARS subpart 227.4, Rights in Data and Copyrights;

(iii) FAR part 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, or DFARS part 230, Cost Accounting Standards Administration;

(iv) FAR subpart 31.1, Applicability, or DFARS subpart 231.1, Applicability (contract cost principles);

(v) FAR subpart 31.2, Contracts with Commercial Organizations, or DFARS subpart 231.2, Contracts with Commercial Organizations; or

(vi) FAR part 32, Contract Financing (except subparts 32.7 and 32.8 and the payment clauses prescribed by subpart 32.1), or DFARS part 232, Contract Financing (except subparts 232.7 and 232.8).

(2) Submit requests for deviation approval through department/agency channels to the approval authority in paragraph (1) of this section, 201.403, or 201.404, as appropriate. Submit deviations that require OUSD(A&S)DPCAP approval through the Director of the DAR Council via email at [email protected]. At a minimum, each request must—

(i) Identify the department/agency, and component if applicable, requesting the deviation;

(ii) Identify the FAR or DFARS citation from which a deviation is needed, state what is required by that citation, and indicate whether an individual or class deviation is requested;

(iii) Describe the deviation and indicate which of paragraphs (a) through (f) of FAR 1.401 best categorizes the deviation;

(iv) State whether the deviation will have a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of the agency and/or a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors, and give reasons to support the statement;

(v) State the period of time for which the deviation is required;

(vi) State whether approval for the same deviation has been received previously, and if so, when;

(vii) State whether the proposed deviation was published (see FAR subpart 1.5 for publication requirements) in the Federal Register and provide analysis of comments;

(viii) State whether the request for deviation has been reviewed by legal counsel, and if so, state results; and

(ix) Give detailed rationale for the request. State what problem or situation will be avoided, corrected, or improved if request is approved.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 201.304 Agency control and compliance procedures. · 201.403 Individual deviations. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 201

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

DFARS 201.402 Policy · SpendQuery